What to do with kids in Spokane over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by three museums, zoos and play places: none of them opens on Christmas Day. Plus six dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
River Park Square · 808 West Main Ave, Spokane, WA 99201
Good to know: Book ahead; free rescheduling up to 48 hours before your visit. STCU cardholders get $10 off photo packages.
NorthTown Mall (WA) · 4750 North Division, Spokane, WA 99207
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 3 evenings (Nov 23, Nov 30, Dec 7).
Spokane Valley Mall · 14700 East Indiana, Spokane, WA 99216
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 8 evenings (Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8…).
Silver Lake Mall · 200 W Hanley Avenue, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 3 evenings (Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 14).
Kendall Yards · 1335 W. Summit Pkwy., Spokane, WA
Good to know: A free community light display at Kendall Yards. Opening ceremony with fireworks on Saturday, Nov 21.
Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises (Resort Plaza Shops) · 115 S. 2nd Street, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
Good to know: Cruise past 1.5 million lights to Santa’s floating North Pole, where Santa calls each child’s name from the Nice List. Strollers allowed on board; reservations required.
Nothing posted for New Year’s Eve yet. Noon Year’s Eve events usually post in late November.
Kendall Yards · 1335 W. Summit Pkwy., Spokane, WA
Good to know: A free community light display at Kendall Yards. Opening ceremony with fireworks on Saturday, Nov 21.
Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises (Resort Plaza Shops) · 115 S. 2nd Street, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
Good to know: Cruise past 1.5 million lights to Santa’s floating North Pole, where Santa calls each child’s name from the Nice List. Strollers allowed on board; reservations required.
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in SpokaneEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in SpokaneEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in SpokaneFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in SpokaneIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in SpokaneBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in SpokaneHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in SpokaneParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Christmas parades in SpokaneParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
The Nutcracker in SpokaneBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in SpokaneChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
This week in SpokaneDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Of the three places we checked, none posts Christmas Day hours as open; Mobius Discovery Center, Manito Park and Gaiser Conservatory and Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (the MAC) are closed. A park or a drive past the lights is the easy plan.
Open with posted hours: Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (the MAC) (10 a.m.–3 p.m.). On the calendar: Santa Photos at River Park Square, Santa Photos at NorthTown Mall (WA), Santa Photos at Spokane Valley Mall and Santa Photos at Silver Lake Mall.
None of the places that post New Year’s Day hours says it’s open.
On the calendar for Jan 1: Winter Glow Spectacular and Journey to the North Pole Cruise. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Winter Glow Spectacular and Journey to the North Pole Cruise. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 21, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Spokane, through the holidays.
